Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012
The experiment was conducted to hasten bud-burst and ripening of Pusa Seedless grape by 10 different treatments of 4 bud-breaking chemicals, viz. Ethephon, Thiourea, sodium azide and Dorbreak along with the control during 1999 and 2000. Dorbreak hastened maturity by 15 days compared to the control, whereas Thiourea (2 and 3%) enhanced maturity by approximately 5 days. Bud sprouting and flowering were also advanced by the application of these treatments. Dorbreak (1.5%) registered its efficacy in increasing the sprouting of buds at lower nodes which resulted in more number of shoots/vine and ultimately an increase in cluster formation was observed. Adverse effect of these chemicals on fruit quality was not observed.
